Zack Cozart went 0-for-4 in Thursday’s loss, leaving him with a .195 average and a .220 OBP in 87 at-bats this season. Cozart’s only qualification for batting second in Cincinnati’s order is that he’s a middle infielder. And middle infielders should be able to hit second. It’s a rule or something. Cozart isn’t truly a bad player. He’s a fine defender, and he’s got some real pop in his bat. It’s just that he belongs in the seventh or eighth spot in the lineup and not in between Shin-Soo Choo and Joey Votto. (Rotoworld)

Cliff Lee was good early but struggled late Thursday, giving up three runs on 10 hits and a walk over seven innings in a loss to the Pirates. Lee was able to dodge a few bullets in the first five innings, but things got hairy in the sixth and seventh, when he gave up five hits, a walk and all three of his runs. Lee threw 122 pitches Thursday, which is four shy of his career high. After a great first three starts, the lefty hasn’t been extra sharp the last two times out. He’ll bring a 3.03 ERA and 1.04 WHIP into Cleveland next week. (Rotoworld)

Juan Pierre went 1-for-5 at the plate Thursday, but knocked in a run, scored a run and stole two bases. Pierre is hitting just .195 on the early season, but has provided owners with the steals they were looking for when they drafted him, as he now has five. (Rotowire)

Kevin Slowey was strong in a no-decision Thursday, allowing three runs over six innings of work against the Cubs. He allowed only five hits and walked none while striking out six. Despite a 2.43 ERA and 1.15 WHIP, he is still looking for his first win with the offense-starved Marlins. Despite a solid 2.43 ERA, Slowey is 0-2 as the Marlins have scored just six runs in his five starts. He has 21 strikeouts and just six walks in 29 2/3 innings. Slowely is scheduled to make his next start Tuesday against the Mets. (Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Travis Snider, who went 1-for-3 with a run scored Thursday, is batting .309 (17-for-62). Snider’s contact rates are up across the board, including a 91.6 rate for pitches thrown in the strike zone. Most importantly, Snider’s plate discipline (7:12 BB:K) is the best it’s been at the major-league level. He’ll continue to platoon in right field, seeing better than a 50-50 playing-time split against right-handed pitching. (Rotowire)

Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips went hitless for the third straight time Thursday, going 0 for 3 against the Nationals in his team’s 8-1 loss. Phillips is 0 for 10 in his last three games and 1 for 16 in his last four, dropping his season average to .264. (CBS Sports)

Dodgers reliever Kenley Jansen picked up his first win of the season Thursday. Jansen pitched a scoreless eighth inning, giving up one hit and one walk. Jansen struck out two during the outing. Andre Ethier and Juan Uribe hit run-scoring singles in the ninth, giving Jansen the win. (CBS Sports)